LAKE TAPPS, Wash. — When Bobbie Jo Roth and her husband learned of the nationwide blood shortage amid the coronavirus pandemic, it sparked an idea of how to help.
Roth's husband is a regular blood donor through his work in Pierce County and they decided to make some calls to see if a mobile option existed given the statewide stay-at-home order.
Cascade Regional Blood Services responded and said if the Roth's could fill the slots, they could arrange for a mobile blood drive in their Lake Tapps neighborhood.
Bobbie Jo took their plan to Facebook and the response was massive.
"I think they were a little surprised at how fast we called them back too," Roth said. "When they gave us the signup sheet within hours we were like, 'yes! we can definitely fill that!'"
They were not only able to fill all the slots, but they also had so many people sign up that the organization sent two mobile blood units.
All the participants practiced social distancing during the blood drive. People lined up along the neighborhood street in their cars and filled out the paperwork and then waited to be called into the mobile unit to donate.
"It feels so good just to do something, we're not sitting in our houses wondering what to do, we're actually doing something and it feels fantastic," said Bobbie Jo.
"I'm a nurse, my husband's a doctor, and we know the need and like to help out when we can," said one woman who donated blood Friday.
This was certainly a great example of neighbors helping neighbors during this coronavirus crisis.
If you're interested in donating blood, head to Cascade Regional Blood Services.